v. [a. med.L. correspondē-re, f. cor- = com- together, with each other + respondēre to answer; cf. F. correspondre (14th c. in Littré), It. corrispondere, Sp. corresponder. The etymology implies that the word was formed to express mutual response, the answering of things to each other; but before its adoption in English, it had been extended so as to express the action or relation of one side only, without however abandoning the mutual notion, which is distinct in the modern sense of epistolary correspondence.]
1. intr. To answer to something else in respect of fitness; to agree with; to be agreeable or conformable to; to be congruous or in harmony with.
1529. Hen. VIII., in Burnet, Hist. Ref. (1730), I. Records xxvii. 60. Knowing right well that ye … will now so acquit your self, as shall correspond to the perfect expectation, and firm opinion that we have of you.
1593. Hyll, Art Garden., 19. Seldome in other places the like hap correspondeth.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. iii. 31. Hap’ly this life is best … Well corresponding With your stiffe Age.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. i. Things are really true as they correspond unto his conception.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. v. 80. Our Nature corresponds to our external Condition.
1769. Junius Lett., xxxv. 158. The prudence of the execution should correspond with the wisdom … of the design.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iii. 262. His outward and his secret actions seldom corresponded.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 42. Their habits and their dwellings should correspond to their education.
2. To answer to in character or function; to be similar or analogous to (rarely with).
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 247. He was … at a richsdach, an assembly that corresponds to our parliament.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 110, ¶ 2. We see in these little Animals … Instincts and Modes of Life, which correspond to what you observe in Creatures of bigger Dimensions.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. 35. The Pleasures and Pains which correspond as Opposites to each other.
1845. Stephen, Laws Eng., I. 107. Their general assembly, corresponding with our House of Commons.
1863. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 143. Plato’s slave, in the Polity … corresponds curiously to Caliban.
b. To answer or agree in regard to position, amount, etc.
1694. Holder, Disc. Time, ii. 29. The days … throughout the year, are found not to be equal, and will not justly correspond with any artificial or mechanic equal measures of time.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 205. The degrees of condensation of the air correspond to the degrees of cold.
1835. Sir J. Ross, N.-W. Pass., iii. 52. The screwholes in the flaunches did not correspond to each other.
1870. Proctor, Other Worlds, iii. 49. The bright lines of the coronal spectrum correspond in position to those seen in the spectrum of the aurora.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 90. The silver penny … was supposed to correspond with a pennyweight.
† 3. To respond or ‘answer concordingly’ (Blount, Glossogr.). Obs.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 42. She was by her hopefull Bridegroome visited by letters and presents, whereunto she reciprocally corresponded.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. ix. ¶ 8. We having received so great a favour, enter into Covenant to correspond with a proportionable endeavour.
1765. H. Walpole, Otranto, iv. (1798), 68. Perhaps Matilda might not correspond to his passion.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. i. 41. After a series of unfriendly proceedings, to which he had corresponded with a manly temperance.
1826. C. Butler, Life Grotius, i. 45. The youth corresponded with their cares.
† b. To be in accord, compliant or complaisant with. Obs.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 9/2. He [Cranfield] was not only negligent … to correspond with Him [the Duke] with that deference he had used to do, but had the courage to dispute his commands.
1678. J. Phillips, Tavernier’s Trav., Persia, III. iii. 105. It is the Interest of those two Potentates to correspond with him.
† 4. To hold communication or intercourse (with). Often of secret intercourse. Obs. exc. as in 5.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., iii. (1628), 68. They beleeued that the Sun in the firmament did with or in this Idoll correspond or cooperate.
1644. H. Parker, Jus Pop., 57. They might the more easily correspond, hold intelligence, consult together.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 293. I would not fail to correspond with him, by the passages of the mountains.
† b. Of commercial relations. Obs.
1682. Scarlett, Exchanges, 170. For his trouble in corresponding and negotiating his Principal’s Affairs.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1840), 1. Gathered from the letters of merchants, and others, who corresponded abroad.
† c. Of sexual intercourse. Obs.
1756. T. Amory, Buncle (1770), I. 156. When a Babylonian and his wife had a mind to correspond.
d. transf. Of things: † To communicate, have communication (obs.); also used for ‘to be in vital or sensible communication.’
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 38. The Lignous Body … by means of many small Fibres, corresponds with the Parenchyma.
1883. H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W., vii. 207. The Amœba … can only communicate with the smallest possible area of Environment. An insect … corresponds with a wider area.
5. esp. To communicate (with another) by interchange of letters.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., 29 Nov. an. 1647. Sir, I had yours of last week, and by reason of som sudden encombrances I could not correspond with you by that Carrier.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 1, ¶ 9. Those who have a mind to correspond with me, may direct their Letters to the Spectator.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), II. xxiv. 319. Locke and Newton had corresponded on the prophecies of Daniel as early as 1691.
1869. Gertrude Parsons, Ursula’s Love Story, xxv. If they had been acknowledged lovers, and corresponded and met as such.
† 6. trans. To answer to, agree with, suit. Obs.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. i. 7. Newe names corresponding their vertews and offices.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XIV. xxvi. 256. Let him take paine To correspond your hope, and my desire.
1636. in Ann. Dubrensia (1877), 44. Not wealth to correspond my will.
1675. Ogilby, Brit., Ded. Tables, equally Corresponding Compliances of Peace and Rufflings of War.
